Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

So I don't say anything.

The silence stretches between us until he finally mutters, "Goodnight, Taryn."

And then the call ends.

I lower the phone from my ear, staring at the screen like it might give me some

kind of answer. But it doesn't.

I let out a breath and lean back against the edge of the bed, pressing my head

against the mattress.

The world feels heavier than usual.

And for the first time in a long time—

I feel completely, utterly lost.

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53

I stare up at the ceiling, my back pressed against the cold floor, the documents

still sprawled around me. My chest is tight, my thoughts tangled. I should do

something-keep digging, make another call, chase the truth until I bleed for it.

But instead, I just fucking lie here.

I close my eyes. Breathe. Try not to think about him. Try not to think about the

weight of his hand on my skin, the way his voice curled around my name like it

belonged to him. Like I belonged to him.

It doesn't work.

The memory slithers in, uninvited.

I shove it down.

A loud bang makes me jolt up. My door flies open like it owes someone money,

and then there's Zoe-her arms stacked with dresses, a piece of bread jammed

between her teeth, eyes wide and full of untamed chaos. "The fuck-?" I scramble, sweeping the stolen documents off the floor in a panic,

shoving them under my bed like I'm thirteen and hiding contraband from a strict

parent.

Zoe stomps in, completely unbothered. "You," she says through a mouthful of

bread, pointing at me like I've personally offended her ancestors. "Are going out."

I blink. "The hell I am."

"Yes. The hell you are." She marches over, slamming the dresses onto my bed.

The hangers clatter against each other. "Because you need it. Desperately."

I exhale sharply, rubbing my temples. "Zoe, I'm not in the mood for some-"I motion

vaguely at the dresses, at her overly

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11:54 Tue, 25 M

Chapter 76

determined expression. "-whatever the fuck this is."

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+53)

"Oh, I know," she says, too sweetly. "That's why I'm forcing you. Because if I don't,

in this room, going batshit crazy over

theorist, and I refuse to let that

like being a

hands on her hips, tilting her head like

to stop being at pathetic, emotionally-wrecked

And what better way to do that than

something physical?"

narrow my eyes. "...Define

She grins, all teeth.

me I won't like

I wouldn't

second we step inside, the air changes-charged,

It smells like leather, metal, and

casting jagged shadows across the concrete

scene. Music blasts through the speakers, heavy

the sounds of fists slamming into

of referees calling

a goddamn

turn

She smiles innocently.

dragged me to

she corrects. "Not illegal. Just...very

her. Then the ring. Then back

is wrong with

a dismissive hand. "You

and I figured what

deep voice cuts

going to kill you when

I whip around.

next to the ring, arms crossed, expression as unreadable

ever-is Jacob Wyatt.

I blink. Hard.

to Zoe.

Zoe shrugs. "Guilty"

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Tue, 25

Chapter 76

my hands up. "What the actual

tonight," Jacob says casually, like he

pause. Slowly turn back to him. "Someone

Jacob smirks. "Fighting."

"For what?"

answer. He just looks at

And

the way

stomach

drop.

sinking feeling crawls up my spine. "Jacob," I

fighting

He doesn't reply.

Just smiles.

I hear

announcer's voice, cutting through the thick

gentlemen, the match you've all been waiting

erupts. The

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ring. Two fighters are already

And then, without

It's not a sport.

It's war.

mat. The English guy

it. The Italian retaliates, grabbing

him

My stomach churns.

isn't a normal fight. This

"I want

my arm.

don't fucking

with a knockout. The Italian guy doesn't get

The crowd goes wild.

the announcer's

challenger unlike any you've seen

The lights cut out.